Advocacy

North Carolina Priorities:

• Legislation that empowers communities to address stormwater from parking minimums and preexisting paved surfaces with out of date stormwater controls.
• Additional funding for NC State Extension agents to help poultry farmers with waste management plans.
• State Trail designations and funds for public access to navigable waters and to ensure safe waterways.
• Funds to communities to quickly access to remove failing dams.
• A definition of what "intermittent" and "ephemeral" waters are and what protections they need.

South Carolina Priorities:

• Publicly accessible information on pollution discharges.
• Funding for the preservation of State Scenic Rivers.
• Stronger law against the disposal of tires in waterways.

Vote like your river depends on it! The 2024 election is a big one for our Catawba River and we need your help. Use the resources below to learn about voting in the upcoming election.

• You can find out what North Carolina district you live in here.
• You can find out what South Carolina district you live in here.
• Visit your county's Board of Elections webpage for detailed information on registering to vote, voting locations, candidates on the ballot, and more.
• The General Election is on November 5. Early voting runs from October 17 to November 1.

We need your help! It is critical that your elected officials, candidates for office, and community hear how important clean water and healthy aquatic habitats are for you, their constituent and neighbor.

• Follow your elected officials and candidates on social media. Comment on their posts, tag them in Riverkeeper posts, share your support for Riverkeeper priorities, and let them know how you feel about their stance on these topics.
• Sign up for emails and newsletters from elected officials and candidates to stay informed.
• Write, email, or call your elected officials and candidates. Introduce yourself, urge them to support specific Riverkeeper priorities, and explain why you care.
• Write about your experiences, opinions, and ideas through letters to editors, neighborhood newsletters, social media posts, and blogs.
• Attend Riverkeeper events and invite your elected officials, candidates, friends, family, and neighbors.
• As always, support Catawba Riverkeeper!

Great question! Letters and emails are an extremely effective way to communicate with your elected officials. Here are a few tips to help you write your letter:

• Be clear and concise: Your letter should be one page and focus on one issue. Clearly state your purpose in the first paragraph.
• Personalize your letter: Identify yourself as a constituent and explain why you are writing. Consider telling a personal story if the issue affects you!
• Include your contact information: Provide your name, address, phone number, or email to add legitimacy and enable a response.
• Use our letter template as a start!

• Find your elected officials here.
• See our Advocacy Guide to learn how you can speak up for our river.
• Share our 2024-2025 Legislative Agenda Flyer with others.
• Support our efforts by completing our Catawba Riverkeeper Advocacy Checklist.